Carton



March 19, 1946. v R PANTALONE 2,397,041

CARTON Filed Sept. 25, 1943 5 She'etS-Sheeb 1 INVEToR. T ROBE/ET PA MMM/VE CARTON March 19, 1946. v PANTALONE 2,397,041

Filed Sept. 25, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TR. w/vcf/.vr maar PAA/mmm? March 19, 1946. v. R. PANTALONE CARTON' Filed sept. 25,1945

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v INVENTOR. Y wwf/vr Raaf/vr mmm/1f Patented Mar. 19, 1946 i UNITEDs'rATss. PATENTorFicE 2.391.114:

CARTON I Application September 25, 1943,8erlal No. 503.7151

(ci. zzo-c) 10' Claims.

This invention relates to receptacles for the packaging of fragile articles such as radio tubes, electric light bulbs, and the like.

It provides a collapsible container or carton made 'from paperboard, lor other suitable foldable material, the carton being of rigid andvdurable construction to provide eiiicient protection of the fragile contents against damage in transport, storage and handling.

The carton, according to this invention, is so constructed as to permit prefabrication of a carton' blank on conventional machinery into a col-J lapsedl at'shell which requires little space for storage and shipment and which. may easily be set 'up without the aid of machinery or tools when needed for the packaging of tubes, light bulbs, or similar articles.

A structural feature of cartons according to this invention resides in the collapsible and erectable elements of the carton which operate to grasp thetube or light bulb while the carton is process of being set up from the blankshown in Fig. 2'

Fig.'4 is a perspective view of the carton at a further advanced stage of assembly;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view o f the expanded be formed;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the blank shown y lullig. 7l in erected and and semi-assembled being erected. After erection the tube or bulb is held firmly in a position out of contact with the outside walls of the carton.

In the construction of a preferred form oi' carton according to this invention bracing elements are provided which maintain the collapsible elements of the carton in their erected position and which automatically move into their proper bracing position while the carton is being set up. Y

These and various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the detailed description which follows accompanied by drawings showing for the purpose of illustration preferred embodiments of the invention.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinan tion of' parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the characteristic features of' this invention which are believed to be novel will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, its objects and advantages, 'and the manner in which it may be carried out may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the inside face of a blank from which thedmproved carton may be formed;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a preiabricated'collaps'ed blank ready to be expanded into a carton;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another form ofblank requiring no gluing operations, the blank being shown in expanded and semi-assembled condition;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the inside face of another form of blank which may be assembled into a pilier-proof carton; and.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the blank shown in Fig. 10 after erection into a carton, the carton being about to be closed by insertion of a A pilier-prooi' locking tab assembly.

Similar reference charactersrefer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The blank A, shown in Fig. 1, may be cut and scored from a large sheet or roll of paperboard or othersuitable material on an automatic cutting and scoring machine. Only one side of the blank need 'be iinished or imprinted sinceV only one surface of the blank is presented as the outside face of the assembled carton.

The blank A comprises wall sections or panels it, ii, i2 and i3, hingedly connected with one another along score lines it, it and i6. For

convenience of description the sections or panels i@ and i3 are called terminal wall sections, and the sections ii and i2 lying therebetween will be called intermediate wall sections. A closure iiap il is hinged to the terminal wal1 section ill.

along a sore line it.

End wall 'sections or panels I9 and 2t are hinged to opposite ends of the intermediate -wall `section i2 along score lines 2i and 22,

Spacing sections or elements 23 and -2B are hingedly connected to the end wall sections i9 and!!! `along score lines 25 and 26 and form ex tensionsof the respective end wall sections.

Supporting panels 2l and 28 form extensions of the respective spacing elements 23 and 24 and are hingedly connected thereto along score lines 29 and I0.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the carton in the 5s Securing tabs 3| and t2 form extensions oi l shown in Fig. 3.

the respective supporting panels 21 and 23 and are hingedly connected theretoalong score lines 33 and 34.

The central portion of each of the supportin panels is separated from the remaining portion of the panel by 'cut lines 3i and 36 so as to form hinged center flaps 31 and 33.

Bellows fold sections 33 and 42 are hingedly connected' to the end wall sections I3 and2li along the score line I3 vand to the wall section I3 along the score lines 2i and 22. The bellows fold sections have crease lines 4I and 42 which are preferably scored and in addition partially cut at C to facilitate the folding of the bellows fold along the crease lines..

Partially cut score lines may also be employed at either side oi the supportingpanels 21 and 2l at 33, 23 and 30, 34 respectively to facilitate the assembly of the carton.

Fold-in ilaps 43 and 44 are hingedly connected I to the end wall sections I3 and 23 along the apply a strip of adhesive to the inside face of the securing tabs '3|v and 32 as indicated by g and thereafter folds the blank about the score lines 23 and 23 so that the securiner tabs 3i and 32 become adhesively secured relative to the intermediate wall panels I2 which they overlie.

At the end of the folding and gluing operation the blank khas the form shown in Fig. 2 and constitutes acollapsed carton which may be stacked and shipped in collapsed. fiat condition reoulring only a minimum of space. The collapsed carton may be expanded without the aid of mechanical means for the insertion'of a radio tube or bulb into the carton as will now be described.

The carton may be erected by moving the end wall sections I3 and 2li into a position at tight angles to the intermediate wall section I2 to which they are hinged. This may be done byv hand or by automatic machinery if Vlarge quantities of .tubes or bulbs are being packaged.

As shown in Fig. 3, the erection of the end panel asoma section I2. the bellows fold sections 33 and 43 are simultaneously folded about their crease lines 4I and 42, as is apparent from Fig. 4. which shows the carton in semi-erectedcondition but without contents for the sake of clearness. The inser. tion of a tube or bulb causes the center 'flaps 31 and 33 to lie upon the wall section I2 in the holsection I2 and parallel to the ultimate vertical position of wall section I3.

The folding up of wall section I3 to its ultimate vertical position automatically completes the in-iolding of the bellows fold sections about their crease lines 4I and 42 and causes the outer edges 41 and 43 of the bellows fold members to engage the underside of the spacing sections 23 and 24, thus bracing the erected structure against collapsing, a feature which results in considerable rigidity of the assembledV carton. Fig. 5 shows the position of the outer edges 41 and 43 of the bellows fold members immediately before the wall section I3 reaches its inal vertical position at right angles to the wall section I2 which structurally forms the bottom of the carton.

As shown in Fig. 5, the bellows fold sections 39 and 43, together with the terminal wall section I3, also form a convenient pocket into which the closure ilap I1 may be inserted in order to retain the carton in closed position, as indicated in Fig. 6.

A modified form of blank A is shown in Fig. '1. It comprises wall sections I0, II, I2 and I3, end wall sections I 9 and 20. connecting or spacing sections 23 and 24, supporting panels 21 and 23,

and securing tabs 3| and'32. Bellows fold sections 33 and 40 are hlngedly connected to the 20 causes a'simultaneous erection of the supporting panel 23 connected to the end panel by eration causes a folding of the bellowsffold section 40 about the score line 22 into 4the position Simultaneous with the erection of the structure comprising the supporting panel 28, the

spacing section 24 and the end wall section 20,V

or thereafter, the folding flap 44 is folded about the score line I5 into the position shown in Fig. 3. A bulb or tube T may then be inserted into the aperture provided by the cut line 38, the diameter of the aperture being such that the tube orbulb is firmly held, and the dimensions of the panel being preferably such that there is suillcient clearance between the tube or bulb and the enclosing wall panels.

The structure comprising the opposite end wall section I 3, the spacing section 23 and the supporting panel 21 is then erected in a similar manner causing the supporting panel 21 to move into supporting engagement with the other end of the bulb or tube as is clearly apparent from Fig. 3.

During further. erection of the carton, while the terminal wall section I3 is being raised to a position at right angles with, respect tothe wallend wall sections I3, 20 and the wall section I3 respectively.

The cut lines 35' and 33' circumscribing the central portions of the supporting panels are of such outline as to result in double-hinged center iiaps 31' and 33', hinged with one end at the score lines 33 and 34 and with the other end at score lines 43 and 5D. Crease lines 5I and 52 extend across the face oi the center flaps dividing the -flaps into base portions 53 and 54 and cushioning panel portions 55 and 5 3.

The fold-in naps 43' and 44' are provided with cutout portions 31 and 58 and score lines 53 and 60 permitting the end portions 3| and 32 of the fold-in flaps to be folded in and tucked under the supporting panels 21 and 28 as appears from Fig. 8. In' the erected carton the cushioning panel portions 55 and 58 formed by the doubled hinged center aps form a wall intermediate the supporting panels 21 and 23 and the end wall panels I3 and 20. The cushioning portion prevents an inserted bulb or tube from coming into contact with rthe end wall panels and constitutes an additional safety fea- 'ture of the carton.

In Fig. 9 a carton is shown made from a blank A" requiring no gluing operations. The

`blanlr corresponds to the blank A shown in Fig.

l except for the dimensions of the end tabs 3|' une sa. For the purpose of added rigidity the carton is so dimensloned that the ends of the wall sections hingedly connected together; a pair center flaps 31 vand 38 abut the end wall sections I8 and 2li at the score lines 2l and 22 respectively, the score -lines 33 and 3l being interrupted so as to provide no hinges for the center aps'and causing the center iiaps to remain in the same plane with the end tabs 3|' and 32'.

A pilier-proof carton and a blank therefor are shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The blank A'" 1 corresponds in all major points to the blankA, shown in Fig. l, except for the provision of' a second pair of bellows fold sections 43 and M" and the provision of an additional Wall section or panel 63 hingedly connected to the wall section I0 along a score line i8'. A locking tab is hingedly connected to the wall section 83 along a score line 65 and includ'eslocking ea'rs 66 and 61 hingedly connected to the body pori tion' of the locking tab 6l along score lines 88 of end wall sections hingedly connected to oppot site endsof aside wall section; a'spacing section hingedly connected to and forming an extension of each of said end wall sections; a supporting section hingedly connected to and forming an extension of each spacing section; and a securing tab hingedly connected to and forming an extension of each of said supporting sections. the center portion of each of said supporting members being separated from the remaining lportion by a cut so as to form a double-hinged center iiap hinged to said supporting section and to said securing tab, respectively. 3. A prefabricated carton blank ready for erection to form a carton, said blank comprisingat Vleast four side wall sections hingedly connected together; a pair of end wall sections hingedly conjnected to opposite endsof a side wall section; a spacing section hingedly connected to and' forming an extension of each of said end wall sections;

the length of the slit l0 thus locking the carton which cannot be opened Without destruction of the locking tabs;

The illustrated forms of cartons and blanks provide rigid and inexpensive receptacles for` fragile articles such as radio tubes, light bulbs or the like. They possess considerable resistance to deformation and eiilciently protect the con'- tents against breakage.

An outstanding feature is the preparation and prefabrication of the carton blanks by the carton manufacturer into collapsed shell form for shipment to the tube or bulb manufacturer.'

The collapsed cartons require only 'a minimum -of space for shipping and storage and may be erected Aand fllledeither manually or mechanicallyA in a minimum oi time.

While certain novel features ofthe invention have been disclosed in the foregoing description and are pointed out in the annexed claims it will be understood that various omissions. substitutions or changes may be made without departing'from the spirit and the teachings of this invention.v

What is claimed is:

. 1. A carton formed i'rom a single blank oi paperboard material including side wall sections connected together to provide a generally tubular construction; a pair of end sections hingedly connected to opposite ends of-one wall section; a spacing member hingedly connected to each of said end sections; and a supporting sectionhing-` edly connected to each of said spacing members: a securing tab hingedly connected toeach of said supporting sections and secured relatively to said wall section, the center portion of each of said' diate said supporting section and said end wall.-

section.

2. A carton blank comprising a plurality of side a supporting section hingedly connected to and forming an extension of each of said spacing sections; a securing tab hingedly-connected to and iormingan extension of each of said supporting sectionsv and secured relatively to said 'side wall sections, the center portion of each oi. said supporting members being yseparated from the remaining' portion by a cut sov as to form a doublehinged center flap hinged to said supporting section andY to said securing tab, respectively, ,Said spacing sections, supporting sections and securing tabs forming two erectable and collapsible tubular structures in which said center portion forms .acushioning member intermediate said supporting section and end wall section; and a pair of bellows fold sections, each'bellows fold section being hingedly secured to one oi said en d vwall sections and to another side wall section, respectiVeIy.

4. A carton formed from e. single blank of paperboard material including side wallsections connected together to provide a generally tubu-l `spacing member hingedly connected to each of said end sections; an inner supporting section hingedly connected to each of said spacing members: a securing tab hingedly connected to each of said supporting sections and secured relatively to said one wall section, said end sections, spacing members, and supporting sections forming erectable and collapsible structures adapted to support the ends of an article: and a pair oi' bellows fold sections hingedly connected to opposite ends of another Wall section and to said end sections respectively,said bellows fold members having free edges so shaped as to nt underneath. and support. the erected spacing members, said bellows fold members bracing said erected structures endwise against collapsing. y

5. A carton formed from a single blank of paperboard material comprising a plurality of side wall sections including intermediate and terminal sections hingedly connected together to pro- \vide a generally tubular construction; a pair of end sections hingedly connected to opposite ends of one intermediate Wall section; a spacing'mennl mediate wall section; said end sections, spacing members and supporting sections forming an 

